Instrument for handling semiplastic substances.



J. HOLTZMANN. INSTRUMENT FOR HANDLING SEMIPLASTIG SUBSTANGES.APPILIOATION HLED MM5, 1908.

9 939,693. 9 Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

lu/vento? aktoznugd/ JOHN HOLTZMANN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

INSTRUMENT FOR HANDLING SEMIPLASTC SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 5, 1908.

1 atentee Nov. 9, QOQ.

serian No. 430,939.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itI known that I, JOHN HOLTZMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Instruments for Handling SemiplasticSubstances, of which the following is a specification.v

This invention relates to an instrument or tool that may be used toinject into the rectum or other part of the human body a medicament suchas ointment or a suppository. The instrument may be used for otherpurposes.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved instrument or toolthat will irst abstract or remove from any mass of semi-plastic materiala cylinder or sample of the material, and which will then place ordeposit the said cylinder or sample wherever desired.

The invention comprises an outer tube, a piston within the outer tubethat is stationar'y with respect thereto, and an inner tube that ismovable telescopically with respect to both the outer tube and thepiston.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,-

Figure l is a perspective View of the improved instrument, showing theinner tube in the projected position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionof the several parts oit the instrument showing the inner tube in theprojected position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section ot' the severalparts of the instrument showing the inner tube in the retracted ortelescoped position. Fig. i is a longitudinal sectional view on a largerscale of the end ot' the stationary piston.

The numeral, l, designates the outer tube having one end closed by asuitable cap or plug, 2, which may be confined or attached to the saidtu'be by any suitable means that will permit of its removal whendesired. The cap or plug preferably has a rim, 3, that is larger indiameter than the tube, and therefore forms a sort ot knob that may beconveniently grasped. The other end of the outer tube is open as at, et.In the present instance at its open end the outer tube is provided witha flat-surfaced ring-shaped flange, 5, which is rigidly attached. Theouter tube also has a slot, 6, extending lengthwise of the tube.

A piston, 7, is within the outer tube and has a much smaller diameterthan the bore or inner diameter of said outer tube, and is suitablysecured by one end only so as to remain stationary with respect to theouter tube. In the present instance one end of the piston is secured tothe cap or plug, 2; when, therefore, the cap or plug is removed, thepiston also will be removed. An inner tube, 8, is open at both ends andis movable telescopically within the outer tube, and also slips over thetiXed piston; a pin or screw, 9, is attached to the inner tube andprojects through the slot, G, in the outer tube, and on the exterior ofthe outer tube this pin or screw is attached to a suitable boss orenlargement, 10, that is convenient to be grasped by the thumb and ingerot the operator, so as to slide or move the inner tube. In the presentinstance what has been termed a boss or enlargement consists of asleeve, l0, which surrounds the outer tube; the said pin or screw, 9,passes through the sleeve and the slot, 6, and into the inner tube, S.By grasping the sleeve, 10, with the thumb and iinger the inner tube, S,may readily be moved outward or inward relative to the outer tube.

The internal diameter ot the movable inner tube and the diameter orP thestationary piston, 7, are such that the piston will snugly but looselytit within the inner tube, and the latter may slide over the saidpiston, 7, and inclose it like a sheath. The end of the pis ton has anelastic head or packing, ll, held in place by any suitable means, suchas a screw, l2. This elastic head or packing` tits water-tight withinthe inner movable tube.

This instrument may be operated in several ways. T the ointment mass ormaterial which is to be used is very soft, the inner tube, 8, shouldfirst be wholly within the outer tube, l; then by grasping the sleeve,l0, the inner tube may be moved outward a little, far enough for itsprojecting end to be inserted into the sott material, which latter maybe in a bottle or other vessel,-the operator may then hold the innertube stationary by one hand grasping the sleeve, l0, and with the otherhand grasping the knob, 3, the outer tube and the piston, 7, may bemoved so as to extend the two tubes; this movement will cause thepiston, 7, to draw or suck the said sott material into the inner tube,as indicated at, 13. The tube now being charged with material should beinserted into the rectum, or other part that is to be treated, asillustrated in Fig. 2. Now the lil) desideratum is to LWithdraw the tubeand at the same time to deposit or leave the ointment, 13, properlyplaced in the rectum. To do this, it is only necessary to keep the outertube, 1, stationary and the collar or i'iange, 5, stationary against theentrance, and to move the inner tube, S, back Within the outer tube; inthis back movement of the inner tube the head, 11, on the end of thestationary piston Will prevent the ointment, 13, withdrawing from therectum, Which action is illustrated in Fig. 3, Where the tube, 8, isentirely back in the outer tube, 1, and the ointment, 13, has been leftin the rectum.

The instrument is also adapted to be operated in a diiferent manner tosuit material that is of a semi-plastic character, or stiffer than thesoft ointment before referred to. rlhe stiersemi-plastic material wouldinclude such articles as tallow, Wax, cheese and paraiin. `When usingthe instrument with this stiffer material, the flat-surfaced ringshapedange, 5, should be pressed against the mass of material, and the innertube, S, then moved outward by pushing or sliding the sleeve, 10, whichWill force the outer open end of said inner tube into the mass and asthe tube enters the mass it Will cut a core, cylinder or sample of themass which sample Will enter and fill the said inner tube, and then thetube may be Withdrawn, or removed from the mass, and the said sampleWill remain charged Within the tube, 8; then by moving the said tubeback Within the outer tube, the said core, cylinder or sample of themass may be placed or deposited Wherever desired. In order to operatethe instrument as last described, the open end of the tube, 8, should bethin and sharper' than when designed to be used the other Way whichinvolves suction.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,-

In an instrument of the character described the combination of an outerslotted tube of uniform diameter' from end to end and provided at-itsopen end With a laterally-projecting flange and having a screwthreadedopposite end; a cap having threads to engage the screw-threaded end ofsaid outer tube and said cap carrying a rod which projects through theouter tube and terminates adjacent the said iange thereon,-said rodbeing rigid with the cap; an intermediate tube of uniform diameter fromone open end to the other open end and closely fitting the said rod, anda sleeve encircling the outer tube and carrying a projection that eX-tends through the slot of said outer tube and enters the Wall of theintermediate tube, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN HOLTZMANN. lVitnesses:

CHAs. B. MANN, STEPHEN J. BIRCKHEAD.

